• Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits,  street photography,  Uncategorized

    Forgot My Phone

    Students waiting at the CSU Transit Center

    After arriving at the Starry Night coffee shop and settling into my favorite chair, I realized I’d forgotten my phone. I’ve done this now a couple times over the past two weeks. It was interesting (almost frightening) to observe how often I reached for that phone but more frightening at how often I thought about it. These two episodes have sent a loud message as to how attached I am to that small device, as if its tendrils are wrapped around me. I made it through the two hours without it, no one got hurt and I actually was able to spend more time in my journal. Out of curiosity, I checked when I got home with the Screen Time Report on my phone (be warned of what that report may tell you) and it told me I was staring at the screen for an average of 2 hours and 56 minutes last week. In a posture of justification, at least 40 minutes a day is attributed to my meditation timer but still… In my mind this tells me I spend 2 hours a day not present to the world around me. Pretty scary to realize how attached I am to that thing. It also asks the question, “How did we survive without them?” Thinking I need to write more about this. Anyway, hoping you have a great day, with or without your phone!

  • Anne Lamott,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    The Mystery of Grace

    I do not understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.

    Anne Lamott

    I have a morning routine that over time has evolved into what it is this morning. Some parts of my routine I seldom, if ever, change, and it’s not that I haven’t thought about changing them. Anyway, after my morning routine, I put on a crock pot of soup, then enjoyed sitting on a favorite rock at Pineridge Natural Area soaking up the sunrise. Laundry is almost done then meeting a friend at noon for lunch. This morning I am grateful for the breath of life and this mystery of grace. May you have a blest day!

  • automobile,  desert,  Humor,  landscape,  musings,  Transportation,  writing/reading

    Senior Moment

    Taken in 2016 along Peralta Trail near Phoenix

    As I left the coffee shop this morning and walked towards my car I noticed thieves had stolen my roof racks. Then I noticed they must have felt guilty because they decided to wash my car. After gathering myself together I started to laugh when I remembered parking across the street because someone had parked in my normal spot. Same car and same color but cleaner, which was the big flag. Oh how quickly the mind creates scenarios that aren’t reality and how quickly I forget. Thankfully I still have my roof rack and the car is still dirty. This is known as a senior moment which is happening more often. But I am beginning to admit them, even here. Enjoy your Saturday!!!

  • clouds,  haiku,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    the twilight hours

    a predawn pink sky
    silence just before sunrise
    these twilight hours

    mws

    My morning began with quiet time of prayer and meditation followed by a drive to Pineridge Natural Area. I enjoy being a part of these divine hours. Seeing the predawn pink colors along the eastern horizon brought on a smile and a bit of giddiness. And, the coolness of the light breeze was invigorating to all my physical senses. Meadowlarks and Robins contributed their morning song enhancing the moment and this sacred place. I found myself smiling again. Taking a deep breath I felt within the gratitude to be alive and the experience of these twilight hours. Hope you had a good Friday!

  • clouds,  horizons,  lake,  landscape

    Misty and Cool

    Love the wave patterns across the reservoir

    Thunderstorms moved through yesterday afternoon, messing up quite a few plans for the 4th of July. I heard this morning they evacuated City Park due to lightning then reopened later and went on with the fireworks display in the evening. Sometime during the night I awoke to more thunderstorms, lightning and rain. I went to my granddaughters yesterday afternoon for a BBQ. I over ate and ate more meat than my body is used to so I did not sleep well. Nor do I feel all that well today. When will I learn?

    It has been cloudy, misty and cool. Had morning coffee at Starry Night then met a friend for breakfast. Went to Watson Lake this afternoon to journal. However I spent my time taking photos. This is Watson Lake with the mountains shrouded by low lying clouds. The small white dust spot on the right side of the image is a lone pelican. Again, the clouds draw me in. Hope you enjoyed your Wednesday.

  • clouds,  consumer,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  storm clouds

    Just Clouds

    I’m not into the 4th of July celebrations as in the past.They have lost their allure for me. However, that is not true for me with twilight hours and clouds. Our weather forecast calls for possible thunderstorms later today which will put a damper on some peoples plans. Since we were expecting overcast skies I drove east to find the open vistas and take in the beauty of the early morning clouds, their patterns, and their colors. A touch of pink was offered for a short period of time so I stopped the car and accepted the above image.

    Driving home a few minutes later, 11 minutes to be precise, I noticed these clouds in the west and again stopped the car to accept the image. I have been invited to my youngest granddaughters for a BBQ later this afternoon. Hope you enjoy your holiday and be safe!!!

    I’ll end with a prayer that we become known as a nation of peace rather than as a destructive military power (repeatedly proving that peace has never come through violence), consumerism, greed, wealth, corruption, racism, and inflated pride.